It Is So Hard To Leave-Until You Leave. And Then It Is The Easiest Goddammed Thing In The World

Quentin Jacobsen is 3 weeks away from graduating high school. He has dealt with the harassment from the popular crew, video gamed with his two best friends, and loved Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. On the night Margo climbs through his window with an all night adventure of revenge and thrills planned, Q begins to feel hopeful that maybe things can change. 
However, the next day he discovers Margo has run away, but she leaves a string of clues behind.  When no one goes looking, Q makes it his mission to read the clues carefully so he can be the one to bring her home. The clues include old records, graffiti walls, and Walt Whitman's poem Song of Myself. Throughout the last weeks of school, Q accomplishes much more for himself, and others, than just figuring out the clues Margo has left. But does she want to be found, and can he accept what he might discover if he does find her again?

 While I was reading John Green's Paper Towns, I noted how familiar it was to his other coming of age story, Looking for Alaska. And although I have not jumped on the teen bandwagon yet,  I am going to go out on a limb and say that it has a similar feel to A Fault in Our Stars. It seems all of these stories have a similar theme, characters, and overall ending with a very familiar moral.
However similar it may be, I was able to connect to the characters in a way that made me want to keep the adventure going.
In Q's journey you want to smack him upside the head while screaming, "Just leave her be, you idiot!" However, after finishing and having a chance to digest the novel, it wasn't about getting the girl; it was about the journey. Q and his friends are at a golden age where there is a door closing, yet so many opportunities laid out for them. Margo rejects these opportunities and chooses her own path on her own terms. Q is almost unable to deal with this idea. He has this complete picture of "saving her", "being with her", and "fixing things", but as a reader you start to wonder if he will be disappointed by the end result. Q has to come to terms with his high school door closing, and he needs to accept the change going forward; perhaps Margo is not willing to accept the change in herself.

Green creates these male characters who have to come to life realizations on their own, but not until they deal with this strong female figure. I love this idea, and the story is more relate-able because the pull you feel to the characters is more genuine and real. Some aspects to the story are a little outlandish: Can readers really believe that two high school kids have the ability to break into SeaWorld at night, no. But Margo is an interesting character who shows strength in a different way, which leads to this obsession Q has for her, and later on, shows him the strength he has inside.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because when it comes down to it, I liked Looking for Alaska a little better. I liked the idea of finding your way out of your own labyrinth, and even though there is more adventure in this novel, there was just something about Alaska that I liked better than Margo. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a feel good read as well; I read it quickly, and I was completely entertained with the high school antics going on throughout the pages. And yes, there are laugh out loud funny pieces of dialogue, so that is always a fun ride.
Green's writing also amazes me because there are so many thought provoking quotations that you can take away. His novels, at least the two I have read, are about real problems, real change, and dealing with real loss. His characters grow, and that is the most heart warming part, no matter what your view is of teen fiction.

~What a treacherous thing it is to believe that a person is more than a person~

There Is Nothing Perfect, There Is Only Life

Lily Owens grew up motherless. Her father resents her because it was Lily who was accidentally responsible for his wife's death. At least that's what she has been told. Lily finds herself drawn to her black housekeeper and mother figure, Rosaleen. After an incident in town, Rosaleen and Lily are arrested. It was later that night when Lily made the decision to break Rosaleen out of jail and search for answers about her mother. With $35, a week's worth of clothes, and the only pieces of her mother she has, Lily and Rosaleen are on the run as a young white girl and black housekeeper. Lily follows the only clue about her mother she has- a picture of a negro virgin Mary with the words "Tiburon" on the back. 
Following this picture leads her and Rosaleen to the doorstep of the "calendar sisters": August, June, and May. Desperately seeking answers but afraid of the outcome, Lily puts off asking the three sisters about knowing her mother or telling them the truth about where she and Rosaleen came from. August takes her in as one of their own and begins to teach her the ways of beekeeping and selling honey. Throughout the weeks Lily stays with the sisters, she begins to discover pieces of her past, her present, and herself that help to guide her. She discovers love, faith, finding herself in a world where she shouldn't belong, and how to forgive her mother, but more importantly herself.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a coming of age story that takes place right as the Civil Rights Movement was beginning. Lily is fourteen and makes a brave decision that kick starts the beginning of her life. This story is similar to The Help in the sense that it shows strong female presence in a world where black and white are supposed to be separate. Lily is young when she leaves home, and although the book only takes place within a few months, it appears she has grown a few years by the end.
One of the quotations from the book : "People, in general, would rather die than forgive. It's that hard. If God said in plain language, "I'm giving you a choice, forgive or die," a lot of people would go ahead and order their coffin". This stuck with me because throughout the entire novel Lily struggles with forgiving her mother, father, and herself. Forgiveness is a hard concept, but it's something everyone struggles with. I have been struggling with forgiveness for a few months now, so I think that is why I fell in love with this book so much. It is important to take in the world that August and her sisters provide for Lily because each of us has had a similar situation where it seemed we would rather be angry than let go.
Lily's coming of age journey is definitely uplifting, spiritual, and puts into perspective the time period. Lily discovers who she is in a place where she shouldn't belong, she finds out the answers she has been craving, and she begins to let go and realize she is enough in this world.

I had to read this book because I am teaching it as a summer reading option come September, but I am so glad I did. It really was a quick read, but such a feel good one for the summer. I did purchase the movie through Amazon so I can show it in class, but if it's anything like The Help, I look forward to it. This book really does give perspective and shows you that you are worth it, and even in a world where you might not fully belong, it is possible to find yourself and move forward. Truly amazing.

Secrets Can Be Dangerous and Destroy a Reputation

 The scene is Manhattan 1899; beautiful women in grand dresses, handsome men, and lots of wealth to go around. The Hollands are a prestigious family among the city, however they have their fair share of secrets to hide. Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, is prim and proper on the outside, however her love affair with the stable boy, Will, is something locked up tight that no one can know about. After all, she is their only hope for family stability, considering her younger sister, Diana, is a spit fire. Diana is sixteen, unable to listen to rules, however she has a certain charm to her. And she has caught the eye of eligible bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker. 

Henry's family is also well regarded, however he appears to be a bachelor who won't grow up. Until his father forces him into an engagement that would be best for both families involved.
Then there is Penelope Hayes who is the city's favorite lady to gossip about. With her risque choice of clothing and behavior, it is no wonder she has caught so much of the city's limelight. She and Elizabeth are depicted as complete opposites in the press, yet the two are the best of friends. However, Penelope's hopes and desires come to a screeching halt when Elizabeth is promised to Henry; Henry whom she adores, spends secret rendezvous with, and whom she expected to be married to. And we haven't even mentioned Lina, Elizabeth's maid who only has eyes for Will, but will soon discover a secret about the Hollands that will make her despise Elizabeth.
In this small city, the gossip wire runs pretty thick with scandals, secrets, and backstabbing. How fair are these women able to go in order to achieve their ultimate passions?


 The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen is a very dramatic series. The best way to describe this series is candy that can rot your teeth, but you eat it anyway. Readers do read on because we crave the scandal too. I think the author did a great job of making this gossipy between characters, but not creating a new "Gossip Girl" or "Pretty Little Liars", which are complete trash. The Luxe describes the Manhattan scene during the time period, and she does an awesome job of developing a good list of characters that readers can relate to. Everyone wants the good girls to win, but there is something so intriguing about the mean girls. The men are handsome and delicious, the women have lavish dresses and personalities, and the whole scene is overrun with an exquisite and juicy plot that envelopes all the characters into a world of betrayal.

I am rereading this series because it is truly amazing. It's a well written gossip column that makes readers laugh and cringe at the same time. You have your favorites, you see how the scene unfolds, and in the end, I felt all the characters got what they deserved. DEFINITELY worth a read; it's quick, it's easy, but it's truly something that is so fun you forget you're reading. Plus the covers are so pretty!!

What Is Your Cause For Hope?

Miles, "Pudge, has a thing for famous last words. In fact, he's memorized hundreds of people's last words. He is searching for his "Great Perhaps", which he knows cannot be found at his lifeless high school. Pudge dives into Culver Creek Boarding School in search of change, adventure, and the chance of his great perhaps. In walks Alaska Young; strong female presence and mood swings for days. But there is something about Alaska that drives Pudge into a head first journey that is his Junior Year. With the help of his friends, The Colonel, Takumi, Lara, and of course the beautiful Alaska, Pudge may be closer to finding his adventure. Through pranks, over night camp outs, smoke breaks, and irresponsible drinking, Pudge's feelings for Alaska strengthen, but he seems at home in this new world. Suddenly, their world turns upside down when tragedy strikes. With this missing piece, is it possible for the great perhaps to happen? Or will Pudge and his roommate, The Colonel, crumble under their own guilt and emptiness?

Looking for Alaska by John Green was a novel most of my freshmen girls were reading and loved. So, of course, I needed to check this out. Alaska Young is a strong female who won't let any male tell her her place. She is out of control, a compulsive drinker and smoker, and her mood swings are hard to handle. Yet, she takes a hold on Pudge the minute he sees her. Her individuality sucks him into a whirlwind. Each adventure the crew takes, each idea Alaska suggests, and each moment they are together, Pudge can't seem to loosen his grip on her. But, Alaska is a complicated character. She's got baggage, and her ambiguous one liners are enough to show her buried pain beneath her hard exterior. Alaska is the nucleus that holds the group together, and once she is gone there is so much hurt, guilt, and loneliness.
Pudge and The Colonel are also complicated characters in themselves. Both are very bright, both share great qualities, but they both have different reasons for being drawn to Alaska. The Colonel has his poor background, and he feels he needs to prove he's worth a damn in a world where the rich rule. Meanwhile, Pudge is just searching for change, and of course, his great perhaps. It's difficult for the reader to really know if both of these characters seek answers for their own selfishness, or for Alaska. But you can tell both of these characters needed her; each for a different purpose.
Green's use of last words and "the labyrinth" were purposeful. Alaska mentions the labyrinth and how we can escape it, meanwhile the great perhaps is something that Pudge looks forward to. Could this labyrinth be the end? Or the beginning? Or could it be the great perhaps? Once tragedy strikes, each member of the posse find themselves lost in their own worlds, yet they have a common goal: Alaska.

This book is truly worth the hype. It's not a hard read where you have to pay attention to every single detail, but it does have a lot of themes circulating:  strength of characters, the idea that one person can truly be the driving force, and discovering how pain can be overcome when you have allies. I loved the characters, as they all had their own strong personality. You can see each one of them develop and change from the beginning, and it is all in part thanks to Alaska.
Although the mystery of Alaska's downfall was never officially uncovered, all they needed was a push to show them that the world may be a labyrinth, but each person has their own way out.

Great book, amazing writing, and every other page I have marked with great quotations. Definitely worth it. It goes quick, but it does hit hard.

~Thomas Edison's last words were: "It's beautiful over there." I don't know where there is, but I believe it's somewhere, and I hope it's beautiful. ~

Some Family Drama Is Too Much

Jeannette Walls has two loving parents and three lovable siblings. She enjoys adventure, is accustomed to change, and is very independent. Sounds normal. However, this family drama is not to hard to see. Rex and Rose Mary Walls are very loving, however very impulsive. Rex is an alcoholic, Rose Mary a starving artist, and both seem to get "bored" with the common things in life; such as living in one place for more than a month's time. Because of their decision making, Jeannette and her siblings are used to traveling. They are used to not having food in the house and not being able to eat for days. They are used to being on their own and having to rely on each other.
Throughout this autobiography, Jeannette goes through her family turmoil. One cannot help but be heartbroken as Walls goes through her broken and impoverished childhood, however, at the end of the novel there is a warm feeling because however horrible her experiences were, they truly shaped her into the woman she soon became.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls was one of the few non-fiction books I actually enjoyed. There were sections of this book that made me want to cry because of the blatant neglect of her parents. Growing up in a warm family environment where my parents would rather die than let my siblings and I go without food or shelter, it was often very disturbing to know that these experiences Walls discusses are real. Her father often disappeared for days, only to return drunk and unrealistic. He stole money from strangers, but also from his two daughters who were hoping to save up for a better life. There was even one section where Jeannette was in danger of being sexually assaulted while accompanying her father to a bar, but he disregarded her screams for his drink and gambling. Her mother's dreams of becoming an artist are completely far fetched, but often get in the way of her parenting. Painting overshadows putting food on the table  for her four kids, bathing and getting new clean clothes is secondary, and with every horrible experience, she always has a positive outlook, even if it is hopeless.
As ghastly as the stories were, the reader never gets a sense that Jeannette hated her parents. In fact, it seems she is thanking them with this novel. Without their inability to parent in a warm and responsible manner, Walls would never have had the courage to embark on her own journey after high school. There were many times when I was more angry for her, but after finishing the novel, I realized that her experiences truly did transform her. Although her siblings and her did not come out sparkly clean and completely changed, each had their own separate journey, their own mountain to climb, and it was thanks to their parents they had that opportunity.
I would recommend this story; as angry as you may get, the overall feeling this piece gives is great. There are some slower parts as the story continues, but the end result is always the same. At one point, your anger turns to heartbreak, then you just root for the kids to make it through. Everyone needs a story about overcoming obstacles, and this is it.

You're Going To Kill Us? That's So Mean!

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought their only worries would be evening gowns and getting through their speech without stammering. When their plane crash lands on a deserted island, the remaining girls are left with little food, no water, and worse, no mascara! The group decides they must combine their resources to provide shelter, and hope they are rescued reasonably soon.

Days turn into weeks, and although they are losing hope, the girls begin to discover a few things about each other, and themselves. Sometimes it's not about how smart or pretty you are, sometimes it's just about being yourself and breaking the stereotype. You may not be able to be what everyone wants, but maybe it's better to just be you.
But, there is more to this island than meets the eye. Turns out, it's not so deserted and there are a few conspiracies no one could have imagined. Add in some sexy ship wrecked pirates, and you have yourself a big ball of crazy; complete with sequence and high heels.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray was absolutely hilarious! It takes the stereotype of the typical pageant girls and creates an amazing story of survival, both in a literal and a figurative sense. Some of these girls have been so programed to do these pageants that they haven't had an opportunity to really live. Others joined the pageant to make a statement, or to help a loved one believe in them. Each girl has a story, and eventually they all embrace each other as friends, and allies. When the girls fight back against the "bad guys" it is completely like an Austin Powers movie, but there's a slight sense of empowerment. They may be pretty, but that doesn't mean they can't kick butt.
The writing is very clever. Bray is a great author, so this is by no means a "trashy fluff" book. She uses her wit to create a book describing the valley girl trash that is our society. Bray creates t.v. shows, books, clothing, etc. that are so similar to our society and makes fun of it. You can see the connections, and it makes it even funnier to know there are people who actually partake in this garbage.
There were times when I felt as if I was watching a VH1 trash show and should be slightly embarrassed for myself. But this book is far from trash. It is funny and the perfect beach read. It's quick, it will get your interest, and you will find yourself laughing out loud. Just be careful where you read it, or people may believe you're insane.  Like, totally.

The Best of Times

You can say Auden is socially unaware. Because she doesn't have a social life, she buries herself in school, reading, and any kind of activity that does not involve being around others. Plus, she's an insomniac ever since her parents' divorce. It seems all she's ever known are the countless cocktail hours her mom holds for her graduate students, which involve mindless chatter about the world, literature, and things of that nature.

After graduation, Auden sees an opportunity to spend the summer with her father and his new family at the beach. Although life by the beach seems carefree, this is far from Auden's mindset. Coming into a community where the girls discuss gossip, crushes, and their evening plans, Auden feels out of place and much happier in her room studying for the upcoming college semester.
Lost in paradise, she comes across Eli, also an insomniac, who has trouble in his own world as well. Together the two set forth on a quest to help rebuild the social life and childhood she seemed to miss out on. And it's at this unfamiliar location that Auden begins to come to terms with the decisions she's made, and she discovers that it doesn't matter how many times you fall, just that you get back up.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen is a very sweet, quick summer read. As I said in past reviews, I love Sarah Dessen books. They are the perfect cushy read for anyone. They are absolutely predictable, but isn't that sometimes the fun part?  Everyone is in search for something to read while tanning at the beach, and I feel Dessen has quite a knack for writing those types of books.

I felt the whole aspect of her parents' divorce and how she never quite dealt with it is a very real topic. Many teenagers go through it, however many teenagers don't have Auden's parents. Her parents are very demanding, pretentious, judgmental, or easy to quit while the going is tough. Plus her brother can do no wrong, and she is doomed to hear about it by her mother all the time. I can definitely relate to that, being the oldest with two younger brothers. So mix these realistic topics with the fact that there is a romance brewing, and you have yourself a great filler book to get through quickly. Everyone could use one of those...duh.

The Help

I read The Help a few days ago, but I wanted to see the movie before I posted in order to compare and contrast. However, I don't know when I'm going to be able to see the movie, and I thought I should post before I forget all the details from the book.
I wanted to read this book long before the movie, but as with everything, movies always seem to deepen the urge to actually read it. And I am one of those people who likes to read the book first then see the movie simply because I am a hard critic. Oh yes, I am that annoying person sitting in the theater going "nope, that is NOT what he looks like", "Oh my god they are changing her personality", and my favorite: "they skipped an entire scene! Those assholes!" Ok, I completely understand that Hollywood needs to spruce things up, change a few scenes, and possibly cut characters or themes as they see fit. I am not knocking Hollywood, I just always tend to like the books better, so I put up a fit. Is that such a bad thing? :)

The Help is centered around Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. Eugenia Phelan (Skeeter) has recently graduated from Ole Miss. As her friends have found solitude in their bridge clubs, benefit dinners, and spending their husbands' money, Skeeter hopes that one day she will become a journalist. She wishes to write something that people will want to read. And watching the discrimination throughout town does not leave a good feeling in Skeeter's mind. People are people, so why treat black maids like garbage? That is when Skeeter discovers what she will write about. With the help of two very brave black maids, Aibileen and Minny, Skeeter starts to write a novel about the good, the bad, and the ugly encounters of being a black maid in Mississippi. The book could prove to be the best piece of controversial literature of the time, but if the three women are discovered, it could bring very serious consequences.
It was very refreshing. It was great to have a book to challenge the norms of society. Plus it was really nice to have three people's perspectives. Some say To Kill a Mockingbird is only from a white point of view, so how accurate of the times can it be? The fact that Kathryn Stockett put in three different perspectives, two if which were black, made the reader able to see the town from all sides. Plus the two black maids have such different personalities and their lifestyles are opposite, so it was nice to hear each of the characters come to life. I would rule this a completely feel good book. I laughed out loud during certain chapters, I was almost in tears along with the characters, and I found myself jumping into the main characters' minds and thinking as they would. I was always rooting for the change, and I thought how brave it was for these three to step up and start this form of unity.
I loved this book because it also taught about change. Good or bad change is always going to come, but you move forward no matter the situation. You can't turn back. All three of these characters are very strong women, and even though all three have their hardships, all of them move on. Because I have been going through a rough patch in my life, it was nice to have a book show me that life doesn't always have a happy cloud hovering. Sometimes you need to seek out that silver lining. These three women in the story all had to physically and emotionally discover the good beneath a heap of bad. It was reassuring to recognize that although bad change may be happening, as long as you move forward only good can happen from there.
It was a wonderful book that I highly recommend. And for once, it's not a young adult book! Yay for me. Read this book. It helped me get a little of myself back, perhaps it can be that way for others too.